DeKalb County drainage board approves two variances, OKs East Auburn plat and orders maintenance for John Ketchum drain

The DeKalb County Drainage Board on Feb. 19 approved two variances allowing Bear Creek Development LLC to build closer to a county-regulated drain, unanimously adopted the East Auburn Estates secondary plat, and ordered a one-time periodic maintenance collection for the John Ketchum drain (No. 334-00-0).

The actions came amid staff presentations and a surveyor's report that the Ketchum drain — reconstructed in part between 2011 and 2018 with final reconstruction completed in October 2024 — requires periodic maintenance and carries a negative balance that must be cleared before the city of Auburn will accept jurisdiction under an intergovernmental agreement.

Board member Speaker 1 moved and the board approved a variance for Bear Creek Development LLC at 3432 Canterbury Cove, Lot 272, to permit encroachment inside the standard 75-foot regulated-drain right-of-way while leaving approximately 40 feet of separation for maintenance access. The board subsequently approved the same variance for Lot 273. Motions were seconded and carried by voice vote.

Justin Hoffman, an engineer for the East Auburn Estates project, described the secondary plat at 3252 County Road 46A as 58 residential lots with three commercial lots, a central pond, and proposed off-site storm-sewer improvements to connect to Auburn's system near a power substation. The surveyor's office issued a favorable recommendation and the board voted to approve the plat as presented.

At the periodic maintenance hearing for the John Ketchum drain, the county surveyor (speaker identified in the record as Surveyor) summarized the drain's history and proposed assessments. The surveyor reported a watershed of 121.07 acres and an inventory of approximately 4,971 feet of tile plus 950 feet of adopted tile from the Auburn Crossing Development. He recommended a one-time annual maintenance collection of $9,958.91 to remove the negative balance and allow transfer to the city. "I would respectfully ask the drainage board to approve the periodic maintenance of the John Ketchum drain number 334-00-0," the surveyor said.

Daryl McConnell of the City of Auburn engineering department told the board, "We're in full favor of the project," and provided an update that bids for INDOT's State Road 8 median project had come in above estimate with a low bid of $7,300,000; he noted the Ketchum drain work was done to accommodate INDOT's planned connection.

After asking for additional evidence and reviewing standard findings (with one suggested amendment noting the negative balance and planned transfer to the city), the board moved to approve the findings of fact as amended, then moved to adopt the surveyor's report and order periodic maintenance for the John Ketchum drain. Both motions were seconded and approved by voice vote. Administrative staff were instructed to publish required notices and to proceed with assessment collection so the negative balance can be cleared and the drain transferred to Auburn.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of Feb. 5, 2026 meeting minutes: voice vote, motion carried (SEG 004–014). - Variance — Bear Creek Development LLC, Lot 272 (3432 Canterbury Cove): motion to approve; favorable recommendation from surveyor; voice vote, motion carried (SEG 131–173). - Variance — Bear Creek Development LLC, Lot 273 (3433 Canterbury Cove): motion to approve; favorable recommendation from surveyor; voice vote, motion carried (SEG 174–188). - Secondary plat & development plan — East Auburn Estates, 3252 County Road 46A: surveyor's favorable recommendation; motion to approve plat as presented; voice vote, motion carried (SEG 231–246). - Periodic maintenance — John Ketchum drain No. 334-00-0: board adopted surveyor's report, approved findings of fact as amended, and ordered one-time periodic maintenance collection to remove negative balance; motion carried (SEG 700–712).

What happens next: the board instructed administrative staff to publish the findings and notices in the local paper and to proceed with assessment collection; once the negative balance is removed the intergovernmental agreement anticipates transfer of the John Ketchum drain to the City of Auburn.

Sources and attributions are taken from the hearing record: remarks by the county surveyor, Justin Hoffman (project engineer), and Daryl McConnell (City of Auburn engineering department).